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There were rumours in the air. During the 126-day-long dharna by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) against the ruling Pakistan Muslim League–Nawaz (PMLN), there were murmurs of a coup d’état. Other than General Shuja Pasha, the former intelligence officer who is known to be a close friend and supporter of PTI Chairman Imran Khan, the other name that was repeatedly brought up was that of Zaheerul Islam, the then director general of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Allegedly, the two were conspiring to create a rift between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif. In the past, the premier had acted against generals whom he had differences with. It was expected that he would again act in a similar manner, under the presumption that the dharna had the general’s backing. But the events did not play out as expected. Not exactly.

It was Federal Defence Minister Khawaja Asif who first stated that the two were behind the political unrest that prevailed last year. Specifically, the minister said, Islam had a “personal grievance” with the ruling party for siding with a particular media house. Asif was subsequently sidelined and snubbed at a dinner with army generals and quickly made to learn a central lesson.

Not everyone took from his experience. In an interview with the BBC in August 2015, Senator Mushahidullah Khan claimed that an audio tape obtained by the Intelligence Bureau was played during a meeting between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Raheel Sharif last year, in which Islam could be heard giving instructions to raid the prime minister’s office. According to the senator, when questioned by General Raheel Sharif, Islam confirmed that the voice was his own.

Khan later clarified that he himself had not heard the tape. Never mind the fact that he kept referring to the ex-ISI Chief as Zahirul Islam Abbasi – the major general who had plotted to overthrow the Benazir Bhutto government in 1995, and who died six years ago – the damage had been done.

Appointed on the recommendation of then President Asif Ali Zardari in March 2012, Islam became the 18th director general of the ISI. He has remained mostly out of the spotlight and yet, he manages to cast a shadow over many major events in the last few years. The most significant of them was when a private television channel ran photographs of Islam alongside allegations by journalist Hamid Mir’s brother stating that firing on the prime-time anchorperson was the handiwork of the intelligence agencies.

Islam has a strong military background; his father, brothers and brother-in-law had also served in the army. His uncle, Shah Nawaz, was a major general in the Indian National Army, led by Subhas Chandra Bose, and was captured and detained by the British briefly in the early 1940s.

Islam belonged to the Punjab Regiment, he was in charge of a division in Murree before being promoted to lieutenant general and being posted as Corps Commander Karachi.

He was mentioned in Forbes magazine’s most powerful people list as the “new head of Pakistan’s notorious intelligence service” in 2012. “The ISI has played both sides in the war on terror and, as US troops draw out of Afghanistan, will be hugely influential in determining the region’s future,” the magazine went on to state. He succeeded Pasha, who had had the embarrassing distinction of being the ISI chief when Osama bin Laden was killed by US forces in Abbottabad.

With the reputation of being an ‘honest’ officer and a close aide of General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, it was expected that Islam would continue Kayani’s policy of minimal interference in political matters. That seems to not have happened. And as recent events suggest, he may have been out of office but still holds a lot of say on the political development — albeit by default and alleged association. Quite like most of his career in the intelligence, he has refused to come out of the shadows to clarify his position. Or shall we wait until the Official Secrets Act no longer applies to him?

This was originally published in the Herald's September 2015 issue. To read more, subscribe to Herald's print edition.

Mrec Large

Comments (47) Closed

I didn't get the crux of this article or the conclusion or the objectives - it just stated the rumors and the politicians statements which are already well known. Can you kindly clarify?

StrangeOct 05, 2015 12:44pm

The whole argument looked under the "SHADOW". No clear evidence. Just provoking conspiracies.

Gaurav AryaOct 05, 2015 12:47pm

Zaheerul Islam is related to the legendary Gen. Shah Nawaz Khan of Subhash Chandra Bose's Indian National Army? Irrespective of what my views of the ISI are, I convey my deepest respects from India.

Taimoor AshrafOct 05, 2015 12:52pm

What was the point of this write up? It is more of a reminder of what happened in the past, rather than political analysis.

Syed AhmedOct 05, 2015 01:01pm

Must be a slow day at the news desk that required the churning of a stale tale into news.

shahzadOct 05, 2015 01:02pm

Is this a topic of debate weather he was responsible alone and his agency or Indian and Afghan policy was the reason, whatever we know how they (those who can't be named) have been playing the game.
Same Kings of this nation let MQM and TTP flourish and murder Pakistanis and now the culprit is portrayed as hero when they are dismantling them (I still have doubt about their intentions)

M Tahir NaeemOct 05, 2015 01:08pm

It is disgusting and sickening when you use words like “Pakistan’s notorious intelligence service” for our national institute which safeguards nation interests on every level. Shame on you.

JibsOct 05, 2015 01:15pm

@M Tahir Naeem Those are clearly the words used by Forbes magazine, not a 'national' publication.

RehmanOct 05, 2015 01:20pm

A nation of conspiracies

mudassar khokharOct 05, 2015 01:30pm

So, what is the motive of bringing this topic in the limelight again?

OAOct 05, 2015 01:49pm

"That seems to not have happened. And as recent events suggest, he may have been out of office but still holds a lot of say on the political development — albeit by default and alleged association."

You have assumed what PML-N, who are notorious liars, has said (and later retracted) to be true. All i want to know is how do you justify that?

wajid aliOct 05, 2015 01:49pm

Shadow warrior :)

AshrafOct 05, 2015 01:53pm

Pakistanis love their men in uniform. Even if they did all this on live TV, they will still get away with it.

Hassan Sharif ManjOct 05, 2015 02:01pm

Author could not clear any enigma about the role of former spy chief during the sit-in . Article is based on hearsay.

UsmanOct 05, 2015 02:08pm

If it is truth that these two ISI heads backed PTI up then it strengthens my believe in the PTI. So the both the ISI and PTI are going in the same direction for the betterment of the country.

M.SaeedOct 05, 2015 02:08pm

If Gen Raheel must keep the image of the only Pakistani establishment free from unprofessional blemishes, he must clear the dust from this issue that can have very dangerous implications about our army and politics.

A true factOct 05, 2015 03:20pm

Now folks this is what you call an utterly useless article!!

zzOct 05, 2015 03:38pm

Salute to Gen. Shah Nawaz
and to all his Kin,
not necessarily I agree with or appreciate all acts of the kin.

zzOct 05, 2015 03:40pm

@Jibs
But still, it was not necessary to copy verbatim.

Taimoor KhanOct 05, 2015 04:08pm

A non sense article when based on lot of presumption and hearsay specially when the interior minister Ch Nisar have categorically dismissed the existence of the so-called tapes about Gen Islam conversation.

malikhumayoun79@gmail.comOct 05, 2015 04:11pm

Why you have need to re-open this issue? At this time it is baseless.
At this time Pakistan is going in a good direction and the whole nation is happy. Our army and government seem to be on the same page.

M RafiqueOct 05, 2015 04:27pm

The PMLN senator and Minister who broke this tale first backed out later. It is the responsibility of the senate's standing committee to call him and ascertain real position for public consumption.

M. SiddiqueOct 05, 2015 04:29pm

He is "Honest"? After all the news coverage this term is ironic. Anyone who plans extra-constitutional activities is NOT honest.

M. SiddiqueOct 05, 2015 04:30pm

@A. A., You call the playing of the tape in PM-COAS meeting a rumor?

SHAHID MAHMOODOct 05, 2015 04:58pm

@Strange Many millions live in Pakistan. Somr people think they know everything and that they can run Pakistan better, but they they have always robbed Pakistan. Someone has to be in the shadows to protect this country. And I suspect there is always someone out there protecting Pakistan; why else do you think it is still standing?
These politicians build buildings outside of Pakistan, not in it.

malickOct 05, 2015 05:21pm

Rumors must be taken as rumors max perception.

qaiserOct 05, 2015 05:23pm

Recent events means the untimely change of core commander Rawalpindi and the cancellation of IK's dharna in Islamabad subsequently. Shadow warriors are still trying.

SMSOct 05, 2015 05:30pm

Without any content, this is waste of electrons.

nasirOct 05, 2015 05:38pm

What is the purpose of the article? I just wasted 15 minutes.

Aamir RazaOct 05, 2015 05:56pm

@nasir To understand future of LEA.

TariqOct 05, 2015 06:25pm

What is this? I don't see any substance in the story ''where is the beef''?

JazibOct 05, 2015 06:55pm

Rumor mills.
There are some things public just won't get to know about.

ZakOct 05, 2015 07:00pm

@Gaurav Arya the past has nothing to do with the present, he was the highly respected ISI intelligence agencies, head. The world admires them.

SaadOct 05, 2015 07:29pm

What is the point of this article?

OmarOct 05, 2015 08:03pm

@A. A. General Zaheer-ul-Islam is a patriot! It is the corrupt politicians that need to be removed so that Pakistan can progress!

OmarOct 05, 2015 08:09pm

@M. Siddique As long as he was planning to remove Politicians who are all dishonest from office, he is honest!

syed aliOct 05, 2015 08:18pm

This article tells what Everyone knows nothing new. What it failed to mention is that now COAS is running the ISI also; may be good or bad only time would tell. COAS got his plate full; to much consolidation of power in one hand is not good; with no checks and balances.

COLINOct 05, 2015 09:45pm

@Zak
No the "world" calls them "notorious"!

Abdulla HussainOct 05, 2015 11:13pm

@A. A. Ha! Ha! Ha!, If you don't get sleep at night keep on guessing you will soon fall asleep.

UmarOct 06, 2015 12:16am

This article doesn't have a head or tail.

NajeebullahOct 06, 2015 12:42am

Pakistan had never progressed since its inception because of the people like Zaheer and Pasha.

khanOct 06, 2015 01:01am

We do LOVE Pak Army but not for the sake to conquer their own county and usurp Political Power. They should work as defender of the homeland . The past dictators have ruined the prestige of this prestigious institution . We hope that the brave Genral Raheel will not ruined the honors earned by their family.

rahulOct 06, 2015 02:01am

@Gaurav Arya I second you.

Afzal MirOct 06, 2015 02:20am

@M Tahir Naeem
Yes. We need to be proud of ISI. They save us from our enemies.

AussieOct 06, 2015 03:37am

Honest, brave and great man. Pakistan needs these kinds of men to protect the land.

Javed ArshadOct 06, 2015 11:19am

Try writing something with substance.

NonCogito,ErgoSumOct 06, 2015 01:22pm

The true test of indoctrination is spontaneous, unforced, voluntary exhibition of doublethink. Some of the comments here, as indeed many more so for Enter the General, exhibit this eloquently. I am truly humbled by the sheer scale and beauty of implementation of Orwell's most sublime ideas. The spontaneity and sheer innocence reflected in comments like "If they too support PTI, I love PTI even more" and "Thank you Herald for this great article on their selfless ownership of the national narrative" bring tears to my eyes.